Flip Saunders begins new job trying to avoid failures from his time in Detroit

Flip Saunders was fired by the Detroit Pistons shortly after the team was defeated by the Boston Celtics in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals. It was reported that Saunders had lost the respect of the team, but it's tough to say if he ever had it in the first place.

After a year away from the game, Saunders will take over as head coach for the Washington Wizards. After struggling to gain control of the locker room in Detroit, Saunders is taking a more aggressive approach with the Wizards according to a great story by Yahoo! columnist Mark Spears.

August 27, Yahoo.com: Saunders said his late hiring made it more difficult for him to meet with the Pistons players before training camp. Other than Chauncey Billups(notes), whom he coached in Minnesota, Saunders didn't arrive in Detroit with a strong relationship with anyone on the roster.

Saunders is trying to avoid the same problem in Washington. He's met with each of the Wizards face-to-face and has continued to touch base with them via text message and phone. He also has sent assistant coach Sam Cassell(notes), who played for Saunders in Minnesota, to work out some of the players. This time, Saunders has vowed to be more of a disciplinarian.

"When you talk to players and get them in their home city they have a tendency to be open," Saunders said. "They let their guard down. I let them know that we are in this together. I'm trying to find out about these guys. I'm also letting them know how I am and that there are things I will adapt to and not adapt to."